DAN DIDIO's CRISIS COUNSELING: SUPPLEMENTAL

**MattBrady** · 12-23-2005, 01:56 PM

Last month during Thanksgiving weekend Newsarama responded to some breaking news regarding the DC Universe “One Year Later” and DC’s Dan DiDio was gracious enough to take time out of his holidays to send us some brief thoughts on the new information, as well as drop a new project and creative team or two on us as well.

With this week’s Wizard revealing some new information on “OYL” and especially 52, we thought we’d ask DiDio for a repeat performance this holiday weekend. In the following brief exchange, the DCU Executive Editor give us some (very) quick thoughts on this week’s revelations, as well as a little something new…

Newsarama; Okay Dan, first of all, and generally, can you give us an update with a little more information on 52?

Dan DiDio: 52 will start one week after the end of Infinite Crisis and the story will run in real time over the next 52 weeks. There will be six (possibly more) independent stories (that will occasionally crossover) that will touch upon nearly every aspect of the new DCU following Crisis. Every character from every series will be seen during the course of the story. As an added bonus nearly every issue will feature a back up story starting with the 10 part serialized “History Of The DC Universe”. Probably most important, every step is being taken to insure that every issue ships on time to keep the weekly schedule.

NRAMA: Okay, the series’ main cast has now been revealed. In “Lightning Round” fashion, we’re going to throw out a name and give us a quick response about their role in 52 and/or their future……

The Question?

DD: Sets up shop in Gotham filling a major void.

NRAMA: Elongated Man?

DD: Rethinking his place in the DC universe

NRAMA: Booster Gold?

DD: Learns the true meaning of commercialism.

NRAMA: Black Adam?

DD: Finds a place he can call home.

NRAMA: Renee Montoya?

DD: Deals with more questions than answers,

NRAMA: Steel (John Henry Irons)?

DD: Sets out to prove the true mettle of a man.

NRAMA: Okay, let’s keep it going with a few more 52-centric bullet points…

A new female crimefighter in Gotham (Batwoman perhaps?)

DD: Any crimefighter will be welcomed in this hero-challenged city.

NRAMA: A new cosmic villain to rival Darkseid?

DD: There are certain things that come from the edge of the universe that even Darkseid might fear.

NRAMA: A mystery figure kidnapping some of the most pre-eminent scientists (and mad scientists) in the DCU?

DD: Nothing to worry about, I’m sure it’s for the betterment of mankind.

NRAMA: A new Freedom Fighters?

DD: Hopefully they meet a better fate than the last team.

NRAMA: A “powerless” superhero getting new meta-human abilities?

DD: Earth’s meta-forces have been depleted, its time for new heroes to rise.

NRAMA: A romance and perhaps even wedding between two major DC heroes? And is this related to two former JLA’ers getting “intimate” in 2006?

DD: Actually, I think its two members of the bridal party.

NRAMA: A new Red Tornado?

DD: Ma Hunkle is a tough act to follow

NRAMA: Lex Luthor does something nasty on Monster Island?

DD: I believe it involves latex and linseed oil.

NRAMA: An established character with his or her own history will make their first appearance in the DCU?

DD: Sounds right to me.

NRAMA: A gay character debuts in 52, then moves to their own ongoing series?

DD: With a couple of other stops in between.

NRAMA: A new hero called Supernova? Someone we already know?

DD: Scour you old comics for clues.

NRAMA: One of your biggest heroic icons spends the year as a civilian?

DD: Finally some down time, last year was pretty hectic.

NRAMA: Any final thoughts on 52?

DD: I promise much more will be revealed in the months to come, fasten your seatbelts, 52 will be the ride of a lifetime.

NRAMA: Okay, but we can’t let you go yet without asking you about some more general DC-OYL matters…

The Spectre: Dead Again limited series?

DD: The Spectre and his new host try to reconcile their differences.

NRAMA: A new Nightwing?

DD: New York City has a new defender.

NRAMA: What's behind the move from one of DC's albeit newer, traditional fictional cities for one of the real world ones?

DD: DC has a long tradition of our heroes patrolling fictional cities and we will continue to do so, but that shouldn’t prevent us from placing our heroes in more real world locations, especially if those cities can add to the personality of the books.

NRAMA: So who's keeping an eye on Bludhaven? After all, that's not just a city you can walk way from and expect everyone to behave...

DD: The Secret Society drops in on Bludhaven in the next issue of Crisis and the effects of that attack are seen in the upcoming Infinite Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Bludhaven.

NRAMA: What more can you tell us about that? How many “Aftermath” projects will there be?

DD: The six-part Battle For Bludhaven is written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey with an artist to be named shortly. This and the three-issue Spectre series are the only two “Crisis Aftermath” limited series, since they are tying up some of the loose plot points not covered in any of the “One Year Laters” or spin-offs, like Ion, Secret Six, Checkmate and Shadowpact, that take the characters and stories building from the Countdown minis and Crisis into new and exciting directions.

For much more with Dan DiDio, including more information and comments about 52 and “OYL”, see the latest edition of his monthly Newsarama Crisis Counseling session.

Big Red · 12-23-2005, 02:18 PM

Interesting, but not a lot of new info.

The article in Wizard had more information.

But I'll say that 52 definitely has my attention...and my $$$.

chap22 · 12-23-2005, 02:25 PM

battle for Bludhaven? seriously. as huge a Nightwing fan as i am, even I can admit there's nothing in that $hitpit worth battling over. WTF is this?

Skatonic10 · 12-23-2005, 02:27 PM

First all the lead-ins, now there's lead-outs? Other than 52? Oh, geez...

Storminator · 12-23-2005, 02:28 PM

Quote:

NRAMA: An established character with his or her own history will make their first appearance in the DCU?

DD: Sounds right to me.

Diana Prince.

Just a guess. I keep thinking Wonder Woman will assume a mortal disguise next time she shows up.

Maybe an infant Helena Wayne?

I can sit here and guess all day long, but this is exactly why I'm loving DC right now. They will just keep you guessing

Best storylines in years.

sol · 12-23-2005, 02:28 PM

Looking forward to the new History of the DC Universe.

SonOfZod · 12-23-2005, 02:29 PM

Black Adam gets a place he can call home.... Hmmm. I bet the Marvels are going back to their own earth. Or Black Adam is the one who takes over a country.

JT Skywalker · 12-23-2005, 02:29 PM

Wow, two limited series that are billed as "Aftermath" stories? Sounds pretty good...

*sobs as he hands Dan Didio his wallet*

~JTS

Hutchimus Pr · 12-23-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
NRAMA: A new hero called Supernova? Someone we already know?

DD: Scour you old comics for clues.

I wonder if this is what Didio is referring to?
"Earth 178: Home of a Superman who lost his powers and adopted the costumed identity of The Nova."

Her'es a link to the cover:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/wf/wf178.jpg

Punchy · 12-23-2005, 02:39 PM

More miniseries?

Oy

Cousin Cory · 12-23-2005, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chap22
battle for Bludhaven? seriously. as huge a Nightwing fan as i am, even I can admit there's nothing in that $hitpit worth battling over. WTF is this?

Pride. In the last issue of Nightwing, Nightwing told Deathstroke to keep all the villains out of Bludhaven, while Nightwing would make sure all the "capes" stay away. Sounds to me like Deathstroke and the Society are out to prove that they won't be bullied, and will go where they please. Of course, Nightwing might then call in some reinforcements...

man_nanny · 12-23-2005, 02:46 PM

I may start 52 just because of the talent involved and the scope of the premise. As such, 52 will be the only DC title I will be reading for a year. All this one year later stuff leaves me cold, and is giving me a great chance to drop a bunch of DC books. DC hooked me for about a year, following Identity Crisis; now I'm going back to almost exclusively Marvel.

man_nanny · 12-23-2005, 02:46 PM

double

man_nanny · 12-23-2005, 02:46 PM

triple.

Sorry. I clicked post too many times.

Caine · 12-23-2005, 02:48 PM

Maybe the Battle of Bludhaven will between the new Nightwing (if there is one) and Dick Grayson.

Bitler · 12-23-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by man_nanny
double

Triple True!

Can't help thinking how I'm going to justify this expense to my fiance and my own wallet. It's better than drinking and smoking, but I buy too much already. I applaud DC's constant attempts to bite away at Marvel's sales. As far as my pull list is concerned, I'm just going to have to find Marvels to drop in 2006.

Lord Ruthven · 12-23-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by MattBrady
NRAMA: A new hero called Supernova? Someone we already know?

DD: Scour you old comics for clues.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder if this is what Didio is referring to?
"Earth 178: Home of a Superman who lost his powers and adopted the costumed identity of The Nova."

Here's a link to the cover:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/wf/wf178.jpg

That definitely makes sense to me.
Wonder if Kal El loses his powers/is severely depleted at the end if Infinite Crisis and Supernova is his new alter-ego during 52?

Superman doesn't appear on the OYL covers of his own titles, but Clark does...

The little tidbits given out in the interview, coupled with the action in Infinite Crisis #3 have me very impatient for the next issue.

Quote:

quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Cousin Cory

In the last issue of Nightwing, Nightwing told Deathstroke to keep all the villains out of Bludhaven, while Nightwing would make sure all the "capes" stay away. Sounds to me like Deathstroke and the Society are out to prove that they won't be bullied, and will go where they please. Of course, Nightwing might then call in some reinforcements...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was thinking the exact same thing, and as such "The Battle For Bludhaven" should be a fantastic miniseries. I wonder if this will have any bearing on Nightwing's relocation to New York? (assuming that it is Dick in the costume OYL.)

Kevin T. Brown · 12-23-2005, 03:05 PM

And the price is...????

Matt, Matt, Matt... You need to learn to ask the right questions.

Titan Slade · 12-23-2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hutchimus Pr
I wonder if this is what Didio is referring to?
"Earth 178: Home of a Superman who lost his powers and adopted the costumed identity of The Nova."

Her'es a link to the cover:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/wf/wf178.jpg

I think you just nailed it dude. Good job.

JeffLane.net · 12-23-2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chap22
battle for Bludhaven? seriously. as huge a Nightwing fan as i am, even I can admit there's nothing in that $hitpit worth battling over. WTF is this?

LOL

Hutchimus Pr · 12-23-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Titan Slade
I think you just nailed it dude. Good job.

Here's hoping if this is anywhere near right that they update the costume just a tad.

kilroy · 12-23-2005, 03:11 PM

I have to say as frighten as Iam with all this, You have to give Dan and Dc credit because I really have no clue where they are going with this and Im glad. Im glad that the posssibilities are endless. Im tired of reading or watching soemthing and being able to tell how it will end or what the next line will be. Being predicatble is boring. Its about time that comics got back to being imaginative, creative and challenging. I just hope that I will like most of the new DC. Dan says this about being a hero and not about rewriting history or destroying realities. Yet I wonder how cna it not be with the return of the origianl superman, with clues to wally being as sick as abrry when he bought the farm. Green arrow being the ONLY archer in star city OYL. To the few people on the cover of TT. And why is Diana alone now. I hate the fact that Diana is always the one who suffers. They killed off her mom then sister (Okay donna is back) and now the whole damm Island give a girl a break she hasnt even lost her virginty yet.

GZR · 12-23-2005, 03:12 PM

re:supernova....
haven't there been world finest hint's too?

ManofTheAtom · 12-23-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hutchimus Pr
I wonder if this is what Didio is referring to?
"Earth 178: Home of a Superman who lost his powers and adopted the costumed identity of The Nova."

Her'es a link to the cover:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/wf/wf178.jpg

Here's a little more

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bi...20661824%20178

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bi...20661824%20178

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bi...20661824%20178

ElijahSnowFan · 12-23-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Punchy
More miniseries?

Oy

...DC's going to milk this cash cow until it is absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt dry.